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(No Model. 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. S. BROUGHTON. MACHINE FOR PUTTING NUTS 0N BOLTS.

No. 587,785. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

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me wanna min :0, mama, VIASNINGTOPL o c UNITED; STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. BROUGl-ITON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO PAUL-HITCHCOCK, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR PUT-TING NUTS ON EBQLTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent mama; dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed March 6, 1897. Serial No. 626,179. (llo model.)

To all whom it may concern; I

Be it known that I, JOHN S. BROUGHTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleve land, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Putting Nuts on Bolts; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for automatically putting nuts on bolts which shall be simple and economical in construction and shall be eificient in service and not liable to get out of order. In my machine nuts carried in a suitable hopper descend a chute and are suitably held between fingers, while bolts, also descending a chute, have their heads grasped by a revolving shaft and are turned into the nuts andthe nutted bolt is delivered at a desired place.

The invention consists in the combinations of parts for efficiently accomplishing this result. Those combinations are hereinafter specified, and are definitely enumerated in the claims.

The drawings show the best embodiment of my invention at present known to me.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan, of the machine. Fig. 3 is an end view from the left end of the preceding figures.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line l 4. of

Figs. 1 and 2, looking to the left of said figures.

Referringto the parts by letters, A represents the main driving-shaft of'the machine,

suitably supported in bearings a a. A beltpulley a, is mounted on this shaft, and from it the shaft is driven. At one end of the shaft is the bevel-gear a This bevel-gear meshes with the bevel-pinion b on the shaft B, extending horizontally at right angles to the shaft A and supported in bearings 19 and 19 A tubular hole is made in this shaft from its free end, into which projects the horizontal wrench-shaft (3. This shaft may be moved longitudinally of the shaft B, but is compelled to rotate therewith by means of the spline 0, carried by one of the shafts and extending into a groove in the other. This shaft 0 has a head a, in which there is a cavity 0 the shape of the head of the boltto be operated upon. The drawings show a square cavity, but of course it could be hexagonal or of any required shape. The head 0", which forms a wrench for engaging with the bolt-head, may be removably secured to the shaft by a setscrew or other means, whereby other heads may be applied to the same shaft 0 when the machine is to operate upon bolts having differently-shaped heads.

D represents a chute for thebolts'. composed of the plate d, being preferably curved, as shown, against which theheads of the bolts rest, and the two side plates d d, forming guides for the bolt-shank. The plates 01 are held by the brackets d in the position shown, whereby a space d is left between the back edge of the plates. d and the plate 01,

It isinto which the bolt-heads project and by Y which they are held in the desired position as they travel down the chute.

A disk E, having in its periphery a plurality ofequidistant notches e, is secured to the endof a horizontal rotatable shaft F,carried in suitable bearings f and f and located, preferably, directly under the shaft 0. This disk passes through the lower end of the boltchute D. The notches are U-shaped and of a Width slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt-shank, wherefore if a notch is brought under the chute by the rotation of the disk the lowest bolt in the chute drops into the notch. The disk is of such thickness relative to the length of the bolt-shank that it can support abolt and carry'it around on the upper surface of its periphery as it revolves.

The perpendicular distance from the center of the shaft Fto the center of the wrenchshaft 0 is equal to the radial distance from the center of the shaft F or disk E to the center of the bolt-shank when lying in a notch e. Therefore when the disk E is rotated it carries the bolt which it received from the chute in a path which brings it directly in front of the wrench-shaft 0. Each notch e is such distance from its neighbors that when one notch has come into the position in aline other may be automatically conveyed by the disk from the chute to the position to be operated upon by the shaft 0.

The wrench-shaft C is continuously revolving, while the disk E has an intermittent movement, caused by mechanism hereinafter shipper-lever H, pivoted on a vertical pivot h to a post h. The other end of the shipperlever is forked, as at W, and the forks carry pins h projecting into a circumferential groove 0 in a collar 0 rigidly secured to the wrench-shaft 0. Therefore when the diverging surface of the cam a is acting upon the cam rod the revolving wrench-shaft O is drawn rearward, while when the cam-surface of decreasing radii comes opposite the end'of the cam-rod the spring g causes the wrenchshaft G to move forward. A considerable portion of the cam periphery is concentric, and when this part is opposite the cam-rod the spring g advances the Wrench-shaft O to its forward position, engaging with and rotating the bolt.

The nuts to be applied to the bolts are 10-, cated in a hopper, (not shown,) from which the chute J leads and down which they descend by gravity. This chute is connected with its hopper in any desired manner and is capable of some movement toward or from the rest of the machine about the pivot is, provided by the bars K, which are adj ustably secured by bolts (1 to the sides of the boltchute D, or to other stationary support. A rock-lever L is pivoted at Z to the bolt-chute near its lower end. The lever has one end adjustably connected with the nut-chute by means ofthe screw-rod Z and the other end with the link P, which in turn is connected to the shipper-lever H at 71 The result of this connection between the shipper 7 lever and nut-chute is that as the shipper-lever, under the action of the spring 9, advances the shaft '0 to engage the bolt it also draws inward the nut-chute toward the bolt, and the nut held at the bottom 'of the nut-chute is thus fed to the bolt. After the bolt is turned into the nut the shaft 0 and the nutchute are Withdrawn'by a reverse movement of the shipper-lever, and the nut is thus drawn out of its chute by the bolt, which remains in the notch e. A tension-spring M is provided between the nut-chute and a rigid part of the machine to steady the movement of the chute. p

The lower end of the nut-chute is formed in a peculiar manner, which is as follows:

The'two sides j of the chute come to an end a distance above the chute-bottom somewhat greater than the height of the nut standing on edge. The space thus left is covered by the side plates j, which are formed as shown in Fig. 3 and have the rabbetsj at their upper ends, which engage with the corners of the sides and have the inwardly-projecting beveled'flanges 7' at their loweredges. The bottom plate 3' of the chute extends laterally some distance and has at its ends the upturned flanges 9' Between these flanges and the plates j are the compression-springs j,

held in place by knobs or pins on the respective parts, as shown. These springs cause the side plates j to grasp the nut with snflicient force to ordinarily hold it against rotation when the bolt is being turned. into the nut; but if the thread on the nut is not perfect or is a trifle small, as sometimes happens, so that the bolt turns into it so tightly that it would be difiicult to remove it with the fingers, the side plates j spread. suflieiently i against the action of the springs j to allow the nut to turn, (the amount of spread re quired being reduced by the bevel-fiangesfi) and the continuance of revolution of the shaft 0 while in engagement with the bolt rotates both the bolt and nut. Thus in this the bolt is delivered not with the nut turned on the usual amount, but with it only sofa! on as can be easily removed with the fingers This gives as good a hold as a looser nut :90

turned on farther. A slight bevel j is formed at the base of the exit of the, chute, and II spring-catch j is placed at the top of the eiit, so that the bottom nut may have no tendency to bound or shake out, but will be held in 103 proper presentation to the bolt, While being easily Withdrawn when the chute moves backward.

The mechanism for imparting intermittent movement to the disk E, to which I have reno,

a lug q, extending below its pivot, and to this lug is connected a tension-spring R, the other end of which is attached to the frame or other stationary part. Alink S connects the late P with the depending arm t of the rockerlever T, the shaft of which oscillates in am tionary bearing t, and the other arm iof which engages with a crown-cam aon the main shaft. The resultof this connection is that as the shaft A revolves the cam'ajroeks the lever T in the direction to move the lower :30 end of'the plate P, and hence the pawl Q, to the left of Fig. 4. This causes the pawl'to pass back 'to the face of another ratchet-tooth and to click up into engagement with it.

Beyond this ratchet-wheel, 1 15 the descending face of the cam a comes opposite the engaging arm of the rock-lever the spring R retracts the plate P, while keeping the pawl in engagement with the tooth, and thus partially rotates the shaft F. The drawings show the positions of the parts just as one of these partial rotations is completed. Therefore with every revolution of the shaft-A the shaft F is revolved such portion of a revolution as corresponds to one ratchet-tooth. By this I do not mean to imply that the ratchet-teeth may not be frequent enough for the pawl to passback over more than one tooth, and hence feed more than one. I refer in this connection to the teeth by which the pawl drives the plate P, and not to any intermediate teeth it may idly click over. Now there are the same number of notches c on the disk E as ratchet teeth which the pawl drives, and thus with every revolution of the shaft A abolt is carried 7-by the disk E from the bolt-chute to the position to be operated upon, and the bolt which was in the latter position is carried toward the discharging position. This discharging position is determined by providing a fender U, concentric with the disk for about a quadrant of its periphery beyond its operative position.. p This fender insures the bolts being held in place in the disk-notches until they reach thequadrant below the end a of the fender, where they pass by gravity, assisted by centrifugal force, into a suitably-provided receptacle.

In order that the momentum of the shaft F and attached parts shall not rotate the disk E beyond the desired point, I provide a detent IV, having a nose w, suitably shaped to enter one of the notches e, and a compression-spring w, pressing the detent toward the disk. This detent has a laterally-projecting arm 10 with an inclined face. A correlative inclined face 1; is provided on a cam-rod V, slidably supported in suitable bearings '0 and forced toward the shaft A by a spring A cam a consisting of a pin projecting radially from the hub of the gear-wheel a engages with the head of the cam-rod and, forcing the rod longitudinally, causes its face '0 to engagewith the arm 20 and withdraw the detent from engagement with the disk. This operation takes place just before the spring R begins to rotate the disk. Just before the disk has brought the next notch opposite the detent the cam ceases to act on the cam-rod and the spring withdraws the latter from engagement with the detent-arm. Thereupon the spring w forces the detent, nose first, into engagement with the periphery of the disk just in front of the approaching notch, and as the notch comes opposite the detent-nose the latter springs into the notch and prevents any additional rotation of the disk from momentum, the lowest face of the cam a being such that the contact of the arm of the rocklever with it stops the movement of the pawl at this point.

main shaft and driving-pulley and two sets of cams and gear-wheels will operate four'machines.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a machine for putting nuts on bolts, in combination, a revolving shaft adapted to be reciprocated, a movable nut-chute depending in front of said shaft and having a side opening toward said shaft and in the axial line thereof, means for transferring a bolt into said axial line between said shaft and nut-chute,and means for causing said shaft and chute to simultaneously approach the interposed bolt and to simultaneously recede therefrom, substantially as specified.

2. In a machine for putting nuts on bolts, in combination, a. revolving shaft adapted to be reciprocated, a movable nut-chute depending in front of said shaft and having a side opening toward said shaft and in the axial line thereof, means for transferring a bolt into said axial line between said shaft and nut-chute, a pivoted lever connected with said chute and with some part which recip rocates when the shaft reciprocates, whereby said shaft and chute are compelled to move in opposite directions, and means for reciprocating said shaft, substantially as specified.

3. In a machine for putting nuts on bolts,

in combination, a revolving shaft adapted to be reciprocated, a movable nut-chute depend ing in front of said shaft and having a side opening toward said shaft and in the axial line thereof, means for transferring a bolt into said axial line between said shaft and nut-chute, a pivoted shipper-lever adapted to reciprocate said shaft and means connecting said shipper-lever and chute, whereby said shaft and chute are compelled to move in opposite directions, and means for operating said shipper-lever, substantially as specified.

4. In a machine for putting nuts on bolts, in combination, a shaft, means for suitably holding a nut in the axial line thereof, means for bringing a bolt into said axial line between the shaft and nut, a continuously-revolving shaft, and a spline and groove connecting said two shafts, whereby said first-mentioned shaft is continuously revolved but may be moved longitudinally, a spring tending to simultaneously force both said shaft and nut toward the bolt and a revolving cam opposing the action of said spring, substantially as specified.

5. In a machine for putting nuts on bolts,

4 r x i 587,785

in combinationa, device for loosely supporting aunt so that it may uevolve, a pair of yielding spring-arms adapted toengag e with opposite sides of the nut and normallyprevent its notation but capable of yielding- 1mmdor abnormal force and allowing rotation. of them-1t, wrofiating wrench-shaft in axial line with the mm held between: saaitl spring-aims, mechanismfer periodically moving a into axial linewith saiii wre'nehwhafitiand mat, and

' for relatively moving the wneneh-shafih toward the nutrsupporting device, whereby the bolt is rotated and. turned into the motif the threads on thenuhaindibol-t properly mesh but whereby both; the bolt and; mitrotate idly thQIIB-fi funtoo tightly, substantially as and 1 for the purpose:v sp eoiafiedm 6.. In. a; machine for-pufifiingnmts on. bolts, in combination, a mmt-ehxmte having", a. bottom. plate-, an: open front, amltwe yielding. spring arms at its sides, with means for supporting 2M1 rotating a. bolt in. line with a min Resting upon the sai bofitom plate, and; mechanism for relatively moving the bolt? and nut-chute toward other, substantiallyas specified.

'Z. In; in machine for puttingmits om bollts, in combinamaon, a pivoteduut-el'xntefl having at itslowerenmeans-folz supporting fihelowelmte is moved simultaneously with bit, h thereverseireetimfiethemmneh-ahdkfl est mm therein, saidi chutehavijng an opening in. itsfrout side to: thewithdmral off lowest 111111,.alongitudinally-movable rotating wrench-shaft, and 12166118150! simultaneously mowing; chute and wrenoh-shafit toward and from. each 0131:1013.withv a bolt-chute. a having notches-in its into-which the bolts fall, and; means: for intermittently taming saiii' disk to being the bolt. therein: into line with thelowestnutin thenut-chute,mbetghtiailiy as specified. 1

8-. In a. machine.- fier putting nuts 0! hub, 40

: in mmbinatiomaswingingnmi-qhmm o I I initslowerend meansiorsuppotfigaflpllr i venting the rotation, of the lowest auxin ib ohute, a. longitmiinalzly-mvabhi wrenchrshafit, and mem'vforhahiilgaiolh 43 I witlrsaitl wremehshafl. and a withzafork-leverfiormvingthemnm v a spring aetuatingsaid fork-lever in the l} 5 motion which movesithe wrench-shaft i 1 the nut-chute, and a cam for 5d! ver in the reverse directiom, I specified; 9'. In in machinefo'rpniting nut! i311 combination, a, swinging nuk-eklbo fl'y I j initssleweienfliorsnppotiiq; $5 venting the rotation of the it chute, a longitudinallynotable wreneh-shafgandmansfarkaldtnglhlh line with said; wrench-shun a'ml b wihl'nalfoifksleve rfiormovilgthnmm 6w 1 a aetmating said fozbleve: in tho j rectionwhi-ek movesthewrenehmm 1 the, nut-chime, acanm the reverse dinectiomm v the-nut-clmte anfork-lenr,etuby than} stantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I. affix in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. BROUGEEOE.

Witnesses:

13.. L. THURS'ION,. PAUL. Huouooom. 

